Our History

Let There Be Neon Opens

Let There Be Neon opens at 451 West Broadway, becoming a major part of the burgeoning Soho arts scene.

1972 > 2020

Let There Be Neon founder Rudi Stern on October 26, 1972, Episode #1712 episode of What’s My Line?

Groundbreaking Recognition

Let There Be Neon is recognized as the first ever gallery dedicated to neon.

Neon Disco

Let There Be Neon designed and installed what has been attributed as the first ever neon environment for a disco.

Studio 54 Installation

Installed neon at the famed Studio 54.

Book Publication

Let There Be Neon book published by founder Rudi Stern.

Neon Violin

Created portable battery powered neon violin bow for artist Laurie Anderson years before portable technology for neon became common place.

Bloomingdales Partnership

Began visual display work for Bloomingdales that continues to this day.

Establishing Home Base

Let There Be Neon moves into its current location at 38 White St. NYC

Time Magazine Neon Cover

Time Magazine Cover - Possibly first ever use of neon on a major magazine cover.

Rudi Stern Departs LTBN

Rudi Stern leaves Let There Be Neon, but never in spirit, to pursue light performances and film making.

Tracey Emin Partnership

Let There Be Neon begins working with Tracey Emin, a relationship that remains adventurous to this day.

SoulCycle Partnership

Let There Be Neon begins working with SoulCycle, and the relationship endures to this day.

Grand-Scale Neon Installation

The largest exterior neon art project in NYC to date, Laurent Grasso's "Infinite Light" neon sculpture, was installed at Hunter College and spanned across Lexington Ave and 68th Street.

WeWork Partnership

Begins collaboration with WeWork, putting neon in almost every location in North America that continues to this day.

NYC Guggenheim Art Installation

Let There Be Neon's work with artist Douglass Wheeler, a relationship that started decades ago, continues with the opening of "PSAD Synthetic Desert III" at NYC's Guggenheim Museum.

Neon in Cuba

Let There Be Neon partners with Habana Neon & Light in Havana, Cuba to assist & advise with the refurbishing of historical Cuban neon signs & expand the awareness of neon art throughout the island nation with Cuban artist Kadir Lopez and neon savior Adolfo Nodal.

Mickey!

New creations and adventures can always be expected.

“The Ladder” by Ivan Navarro

A large scale exterior art installation in San Francisco.

Dublin House

We celebrate our 50th Anniversary in 2022 and The Dublin House celebrated it’s 100th. What better form of celebration than to completely restore this piece of NYC history!!